Tube expander

ABSTRACT

A tube expander including: a main body, two opposite clamping blocks being disposed under a bottom of the main body, the two clamping blocks defining therebetween an insertion space in which a copper tube can be clamped; and a bolt screwed through the main body. One end of the bolt, which extends out of the main body, has a rotary switch. A top face of the rotary switch is formed with a polygonal socket in which a connecting member is accommodated. The connecting member is easily connectable with a mechanical power source for conveniently and quickly ascend/descending the bolt within the insertion space of the main body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a tube expander which is conveniently connectable with a power source.

Referring to FIG. 5, when connecting a copper tube 40 with another tube body 70 such as a pipeline of an air-conditioning appliance, one end of the copper tube 40 is formed with a trumpet-shaped enlarged section 41. The enlarged section 41 is fitted in a blind nut 71 having an abutting face 72 on inner side of one end of the blind nut 71. The copper tube 40 extends out of the end of the blind nut 71 with the enlarged section 41 abutting against the abutting face 72. The blind nut 71 is screwed on one end of the tube 70 for connecting the copper tube 40 with the tube body 70.

When applied to different working sites, the copper tube 40 must be cut into different lengths as necessary. Then one end of the copper tube 40 is expanded by a tube expander into the enlarged section 41.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a conventional tube expander. The tube expander includes a main body 80. Two opposite clamping blocks 81 extend from the bottom of the main body 80. The two clamping blocks 81 define therebetween an insertion space 82. A bolt 83 is screwed through the main body 80. One end of the bolt 83, which extends into the insertion space 82, has a fixed conic body 84. The top end of the bolt 83 has a rotary switch 85. A locating bolt 86 is perpendicularly screwed through one of the clamping blocks 81.

In use of the conventional tube expander, a copper tube 40 is clamped by an elongated cramp 42. The cramp 42 is horizontally inserted in the insertion space 82 of the main body 80. The locating bolt 86 is tightened to tightly abut against the cramp 42 with one end of the copper tube 40 in alignment with the bolt 83. By means of manually wrenching the bolt 83, the conic body 84 is spirally descended toward the copper tube 40 for pressing and expanding the end of the copper tube 40 into the enlarged section 41.

The bolt of the conventional tube expander can be only manually operated. When the conic body presses and deforms the end of the copper tube, a user needs to exert a stress onto the copper tube to overcome the strength thereof. Therefore, it is quite laborious and inconveniently to perform the tube expansion operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a tube expander which is conveniently connectable with a mechanical power source. The tube expander can be driven by the power source to conveniently and quickly descend the bolt for expanding the tube. Therefore, the tube expansion operation can be performed with labor saved.

According to the above object, the tube expander of the present invention includes a main body. Two opposite clamping blocks are disposed under the bottom of the main body. The two clamping blocks 11 define therebetween an insertion space. The present invention further includes a bolt screwed through the center of the main body. One end of the bolt, which extends into the insertion space, has a conic body. The other end of the butterfly bolt, which extends out of the main body, has a rotary switch. One face of the rotary switch distal from the conic body is formed with a polygonal socket coaxial with the bolt.

The present invention further includes a connecting member having a polygonal block for inserting in the polygonal socket of the bolt and a coupling section for coupling with a power source. Through the connecting member, the power source can drive the bolt to rotate for expanding the copper tube.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional assembled view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional assembled view showing that the present invention is coupled with a pneumatic wrench;

FIG. 4 is a sectional assembled view showing that the present invention is coupled with a pneumatic drill;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing that a copper tube is connected with a tube body;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional tube expander; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the operation of the conventional tube expander.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. The tube expander of the present invention includes a main body 10. Two opposite clamping blocks 11 are disposed under the bottom of the main body 10. The two clamping blocks 11 define therebetween an insertion space 12. A locating bolt 13 is perpendicularly screwed through one of the clamping blocks 11.

The present invention further includes a butterfly bolt 20 screwed through the center of the main body 10. One end of the butterfly bolt 20, which extends into the insertion space 12, has a conic body 21. The other end of the butterfly bolt 20, which extends out of the main body 10, has a rotary switch 22. One face of the rotary switch 22 distal from the conic body 21 is formed with a connecting section which can be a polygonal socket 23. The polygonal socket 23 is coaxial with the butterfly bolt 20. In this embodiment, the polygonal hole 23 is a square socket.

The present invention further includes a connecting member 30 having a polygonal block 31. In this embodiment, the polygonal block 31 is a quadrangular column. The connecting member 30 further has a coupling section 32 for coupling with a power source. The polygonal block 31 of the connecting member 30 can be inserted in the polygonal socket 23 of the butterfly bolt 20.

In use of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, a copper tube 40 is clamped by a cramp 42. The cramp 42 is inserted in the insertion space 12 of the main body 10. The locating bolt 13 is tightened, whereby one end face of the locating bolt 13 tightly abuts against the cramp 42 to fix the copper tube 40 in the main body 40 in alignment with the butterfly bolt 20. By means of manually wrenching the rotary switch 22, the butterfly bolt 20 can be driven to ascend or descend. Alternatively, the butterfly bolt 20 can be mechanically driven. The coupling section 32 of the connecting member 30 is fitted with a coupling seat 51 of a pneumatic tool such as a pneumatic wrench 50. When the pneumatic wrench 50 is activated, the coupling seat 51 together with the connecting member 30 is rotated to drive and ascend/descend the butterfly bolt 20. One end of the copper tube 40 is eccentrically pressed by the conic body 21 and deformed and expanded to form a tapered enlarged section 41.

Referring to FIG. 4, the connecting member 30 can be connected with an electric drill 60. The coupling section 32 of the connecting member 30 is inserted in the coupling seat 61 of the electric drill 60. When the electric drill 60 is activated, the coupling seat 51 drives the connecting member 30 to rotate. At this time, the butterfly bolt 20 is synchronously driven and rotated for expanding the copper tube.

According to the above arrangement, the present invention has the following advantages:

-   -   1. The butterfly bolt of the tube expander of the present         invention is formed with a polygonal socket for directly         coupling with a power source. By means of the polygonal socket,         the present invention can be mechanically driven to conveniently         and quickly perform tube expansion operation. The polygonal         block of the connecting member has a unified specification for         inserting in the polygonal socket of the butterfly bolt. The         coupling section of the connecting member can have different         configurations adapted to different types of coupling seats of         different power sources. Accordingly, the present invention can         be conveniently connected with different mechanical power         sources for expanding the tube.     -   2. By means of the butterfly bolt and the connecting member, the         tube expander of the present invention can be connected with a         nonhuman power source. The tube expander of the present         invention can be driven by the power source to conveniently and         quickly ascend/descend the butterfly bolt for expanding the         tube. Accordingly, the efficiency of the tube expansion         operation can be greatly enhanced. Also, in operation, the labor         is saved.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A tube expander comprising: a main body, two opposite clamping blocks being disposed under a bottom of the main body, the two clamping blocks defining therebetween an insertion space; and a bolt screwed through the main body, one end of the bolt, which extends into the insertion space, having a conic body, the other end of the bolt, which extends out of the main body, having a rotary switch, one face of the rotary switch distal from the conic body being formed with a connecting section for connecting with a power source.
 2. The tube expander as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting section of the bolt is connectable with a connecting member connectable with the power source.
 3. The tube expander as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connecting section of the bolt is a polygonal socket and the connecting member has a polygonal block corresponding to the polygonal socket of the bolt and a coupling section for coupling with the power source, whereby the polygonal block of the connecting member can be inserted in the polygonal socket of the bolt.
 4. The tube expander as claimed in claim 3, wherein the polygonal socket of the bolt is a square socket and the polygonal block of the connecting member is a quadrangular column corresponding to the square socket.
 5. The tube expander as claimed in claim 1, wherein a locating bolt is perpendicularly screwed through one of the clamping blocks of the main body. 